DEVO 10.31.26

DEVO. 10.31.26

“Then she cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!” When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the LORD had left him.” ‭‭Judges‬ ‭16‬:‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

- This is such a sad verse in the Bible!

- Samson said, “I will do as before and shake myself free.”

- An angel appeared to both Samson’s mother and Mary the Mother of Jesus to prophesy their birth!

- Both of these pregnancies were unexpected.

- At the time of the announcement of Samson’s birth the Israelites were being oppressed by the Philistines and at the time of Jesus’ birth the Israelites were oppressed by the Romans.

- Both Samson and Jesus were dedicated to the Lord at their birth!

- They were both known as those who would deliver the people.

- All this to say, Samson’s birth was a significant birth!

- Samson had taken a Nazarite vow.

- Samson was set apart by God to judge the people of Israel.

- But even with a great beginning, Samson allowed himself to drift away from God and allowed sin to lure him away.

- Samson’s greatest weakness was lust!

- He was lured away by sex and allowed this to blind his eyes.

- Delilah asked him the secret to his strength and eventually he revealed it to her.

- She had lulled Samson to sleep, both physically and spiritually.

- He took one step away from God after another until sin became a normal part of his life and he could no longer sense the presence of the Lord.

- So He thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the LORD had left him.”

- He DIDN’T REALIZE!

- Let that be an alarm bell for you!

- Don’t ever get to the place where sin is normal and comfortable!

- Hebrews 11:25 tells us that there is a “fleeting pleasures of sin.”

- There is a is a fun side to sin but it leads to spiritual death!

- Roman’s 3:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death…”

- Death! That’s what you earn from your temporary fun!

- Don’t ever risk the eternal for the temporary!

- It’s the worst investment and that’s what Samson and many other people do!

- The rest of Romans 6:23 says, “ but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

- Eternal Life! That’s far better than No Life!

- Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay!

- Please, today, if you are compromising and straying, Repent!

- Turn around and receive Jesus’ forgiveness!

- Jesus = Life!

- Have a great weekend!